5 FEBRUARY 1859, Page 13

The fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Mendelssohn was "commemo-

rated" (according to the fashion of the day) on Thursday by two musical performances; the one given by Mr. Mullah at St. Martin's Hall, and the other at Exeter Hall by the Sacred Harmonic Society. Mr. Mullah's Concert, in the morning, was entirely instrumental, and consisted of Mendelssohn's "Scottish Symphony, Ins pianoforte concerto in D minor, and his Overtures to The Midsummer Night's Dream and Buy Bias. All these pieces were admirably performed, Mr. Mullah's orchestra being one of the best in London; and Herr Pauer, who played the con- certo, has no superior among the pianists of the day. Blffah was given at Exeter Hall in the evening; Belletti, Sims Reeves, Madame Ruders- do4 and Miss Dolby being the principal singers. There was nothing remarkable in the performance, excepting the display of a colossal bust of Mendelssohn erected in front of the orchestra, the enormous bulk of which, and its uncouth clumsiness, had an effect far from imposing. Each performance drew a large concourse of people.